Keystone to host Jazz Institute

La Plume - The sixth annual Jazz Institute at KeystoneCollege will welcome a wide variety of jazz lovers from July 29-August 2 on campus.

The Jazz Institute, presented in partnership with the Pennsylvania Jazz Alliance, will offer an opportunity for local musicians of all ages to study and perform with several of Northeast Pennsylvania’s and New York’s finest touring and recording jazz artists. Participants will gain experience in the varied styles of music they will create and perform in their future musical careers. Following the week-long educational event, participants will perform as a group at the Scranton Jazz Festival on August 2-4 in downtown Scranton.

A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Jim Buckley has been part of the local and regional jazz scene for over 40 years. He has had the distinction of performing and touring with Phil Woods, George Young, Lew Delgato, Johnny Mathis, The Temptations, and many other jazz greats. As an educator, he has been teaching music for over 25 years in the ScrantonSchool District, and he has also served as an adjunct professor of jazz history at the University of Scranton.

Tom Hamilton has performed and toured extensively with many jazz greats including Natalie Cole. Phil Woods, Machito and Dizzy Gilespie. Tom conducts workshops in high schools and colleges and has taught privately for close to 30 years. A graduate of WilliamPattersonUniversity and MarywoodUniversity, he currently teaches in Pocono area schools.

Marko Marcinko, founder of the Pennsylvania Jazz Alliance, is a driving force in the establishment of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s jazz culture. His work and love of music has made events such as The Scranton Jazz Festival possible. A University of Miami graduate, Marko has performed and toured with jazz greats Maynard Ferguson, Joe Henderson, Michael Brecker, Red Rodney, Paquito D’Rivera and for the past 11 years Dave Liebman. He is currently an adjunct professor of jazz studies at PennStateUniversity.

A native of Scranton, Tony Marino has performed and toured with the jazz greats such as Phil Woods, Bob Dorough, Mose Allison, Jimmy Cobb, George Young, Betty Buckley, and Dave Liebman. Tom has also served as an educator at the University of the Arts and as a freelance clinician worldwide.

Eddie Severn has performed in a wide variety of musical situations from jazz to classical to rock. His performing career spans over 20 years, and he was lead trumpet player with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. He now resides in the U.S. and freelances as a solo performer and clinician. Eddie has also performed and recorded music for television, radio, and theater, as well as numerous pop sessions and shows. Eddie serves as a professor of music studies at LockHavenUniversity.

Bill Washer has been part of the Northeastern Pennsylvania jazz scene for over 20 years. He has toured and recorded with such legends as Gato Barbieri, Stevie Wonder, Liza Minelli, Asford and Simpson, and Michael Brecker. Bill is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music and is a professor at MoravianCollege and MuhlenbergUniversity. He can be heard every Wednesday night with the Marko Marcinko Jazz Quartet at Bazil Italian Restaurant, Clarks Summit, Pa.

For more information on the Jazz Institute, contact Crystal Seigle at 570-945-8580.